MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt suggested that Woodford could replace Kwang Hyun Kim in the rotation when the latter's turn next comes up Thursday against the Dodgers in St. Louis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. "We'll see," Shildt said, regarding whether Woodford or Kim would receive the starting nod Thursday.

After being called up from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Woodford was initially expected to fill a multi-inning relief role for St. Louis over the final month of the season. He may have earned himself a look in the rotation, however, after he successfully filled in for a struggling Kim in Saturday's loss to Milwaukee. After Kim served up four runs on seven hits and a walk while lasting just 1.2 innings in the outing, Woodford came on to strike out five over 5.1 innings of long relief. Considering the Cardinals initially wanted to move Kim to the bullpen before Jack Flaherty's (shoulder) move to the injured list in late August altered those plans, it wouldn't be surprising if the southpaw now shifted to a relief role after Woodford had the chance to get stretched out for starting duty in the loss to Milwaukee.

Flaherty (shoulder) resumed playing catch Sunday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Flaherty's first throwing session apparently went well, as he'll throw again from 90 feet Monday. The right-hander still has to ramp up his intensity before he's considered to return to game action, but he's made good progress in his recovery recently.

Manager Mike Shildt wouldn't commit to Kim making his next turn through the St. Louis rotation in Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. "We'll see," Shildt said, when asked if Kim or Jake Woodford would start Thursday.

According to Jones, the way in which Shildt spoke about the matter would seem to point to Woodford getting the starting nod Thursday. A rotation shakeup wouldn't be surprising, considering that Kim was expected to spend the final five weeks of the season in a relief role until Jack Flaherty's (shoulder) move back to the injured list forced the Cardinals to alter those plans. Though Kim turned in a decent showing Aug. 29 in Pittsburgh in his first start in place of Flaherty, the southpaw was lit up for four runs on seven hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Saturday's loss to the Brewers. Meanwhile, Woodford shined in long relief behind Kim, striking out five over 5.1 shutout innings to potentially earn himself a look in the rotation in the process.

Morton signed a one-year, $20 million contract extension with Atlanta on Monday.

Morton is slated to spend at least one more season in Atlanta, and his deal includes a $20 million club option for the 2023 campaign. The 37-year-old sputtered to a 5.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 39 innings across his first eight starts of the season, but he's turned things around recently with a 2.79 ERA and 40:7 K:BB in 29 innings across his last five appearances.

Castillo (7-15) was tagged with the loss Sunday against the Tigers after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while fanning seven across six innings.

Castillo tossed his fifth straight quality start but has been unable to deliver many wins in that span, going 1-4 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 32 innings through that stretch. Castillo endured a slow start to the season but has picked things up of late and has allowed more than three earned runs just once since the beginning of June.

Morton (13-5) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Morton was dominant once again, posting his 12th quality start in 15 outings since June 17. The only two hits the 37-year-old gave up were to Raimel Tapia, who led off the fourth with a triple before scoring to put the Rockies on the board. Morton later gave up a second run in the seventh after issuing a leadoff walk and eventually allowing the runner to score on a sacrifice fly. His four strikeouts were the lowest total he's had since June 11 but he was still able to generate 14 whiffs. He now sits at a 3.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 185:51 K:BB over 158 innings and lines up to face the Marlins at home next weekend.

Feltner (0-1) allowed six runs on five hits and two walks over 2.2 innings as he took the loss against Atlanta on Sunday.

Feltner's debut was one he won't want to remember after giving up three home runs before even managing to complete three innings. Ozzie Albies took him deep to right on the first pitch of the game. Feltner then found himself trying to get out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third and was unable to do so. Austin Riley drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and then Adam Duvall and Travis d'Arnaud followed with back-to-back home runs to make it 6-0 and end Feltner's outing. He should continue to get some looks in the back end of the rotation with the Rockies currently down two starters due to inury.

Davies allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three batters over four innings Sunday against the Pirates. He did not factor into the decision.

Davies was punished by the long ball Sunday. He allowed a first-inning solo home run to Yoshi Tsutsugo and then a grand slam to Brian Reynolds in the third. Reynolds would chase Davies out of the game in the fifth after leading off with a single and eventually came around to score, charging the 28-year-old with his sixth run of the game. Davies has now failed to reach five innings in seven of his last 11 starts and sits at a 5.16 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 108:67 K:BB over 139.2 innings. He tentatively lines up for a meeting with the Giants his next time out.

Buehler (13-3) took the loss in Sunday's 6-4 defeat at the hands of the Giants, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout in three innings.

Buehler picked the wrong time to have his worst start of the season as first place was on the line in the NL West. The Cy Young contender permitted runs in all three innings in submitting only his second start with less than six innings pitched and lowest strikeout total all year. Look for Buehler to rebound next weekend against San Diego as his 2.31 ERA still leads MLB.

Burnes allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings in Sunday's win over St. Louis. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision.

Burnes rolled through three shutout innings without much of a threat from the Cardinals to begin the game. All three runs scored against him came during the fourth frame, including a two-run double by Harrison Bader. While he didn't record his 10th win of the year, Burnes has now gone 16 straight starts without a loss. He owns a 2.40 ERA with a 122:23 K:BB during that span. Burnes is projected to take the mound in Cleveland next weekend.